Welcome to Unitarian Universalists at Riderwood.
Who are the Unitarian Universalists at Riderwood?
We are a “Covenanting Community” of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Covenanting Communities claim a UU identity and advance UU values, but they look and feel different from a traditional congregation. Covenanting communities include small meeting groups, missional communities, intentional living cooperatives, national networks, and more.
Some of us are current or former members of Unitarian Universalist congregations in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Others were members of UU churches in other parts of the nation and world before coming to Riderwood. Others are new to Unitarian Universalism. We welcome all who find something here that sustains them.
What we stand for
This image represents the values articulated in Article II in the bylaws of the Unitarian Universalist Association, as adopted in 2024. These values are:
Interdependence
We honor the interdependent web of all existence. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it.
We covenant to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation. We will create and nurture sustainable relationships of care and respect, mutuality and justice. We will work to repair harm and damaged relationships.
Pluralism
We celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.
Justice
We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive.
We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregations, our Association, and society at large.
Transformation
We adapt to the changing world.
We covenant to collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically. Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect.
Generosity
We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.
We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.
Equity
We declare that every person has the right to flourish with inherent dignity and worthiness.
We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities.
Our Chaplain
Chaplain Anthony Jenkins is a proud native of DC/Maryland/Virginia who also called upstate NY home for a significant chunk of his childhood. Among many other things, he is a 20-year practitioner of daily meditation, a spiritual alchemist, an interfaith contemplative, a pescatarian (mostly), a lover of bone-dry red oaky peppery wines, a highly kinesthetic learner, a poster child INFP, an Enneagram 9, a surprisingly ineffective bowler, a decent Spades partner, and a tenured Ravens/Orioles/Wizards fan.
Anthony also serves as a military chaplain in the US Navy Reserve. Previously, he served for five years in U.S. Army Bands and then five years in the Army’s Chaplain Corps. Most recently, he served for five years in the U.S. Air Force Chaplain Corps. He has the dubious distinction of having held the two military ranks with arguably the least amount of in-house prestige – E-4/Corporal and O-1/Second Lieutenant.
Anthony earned his Bachelor of Music (Bass/ Performance) from Morgan State University in 2005. He has been blessed to work as a professional bassist for artists across the genre-spectrum regionally, nationally, and internationally since 1999.
Anthony earned his Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School in May 2017. He was ordained in October 2017 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia (MD), where he served for seven years as both Intern Minister and Assistant Minister.
Anthony has served as a chaplain at Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital in Baltimore. Lastly (but not least-ly), he is grateful to be serving currently as the minister at Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church in Hyattsville.
Anthony, his wife, and their two children currently reside in Ellicott City, MD.
This month’s activities:
FIRST THURSDAY DISCUSSION, DECEMBER 4
• TOPIC: Hope (our December theme)
• DISCUSS: Chaplain Anthony will lead us in a conversation exploring hope as a cornerstone of four December high holy days (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Advent/Christmas, Yule).
• WHEN/WHERE: 10:30am in TNC Classroom
POST-DISCUSSION LUNCH in Potomac Café from Noon – 12:50 pm: Join Chaplain Jenkins at the largest table for a casual lunch a conversation.
SECOND THURSDAY ACTIVITIES, DECEMBER 11
• Lunch in Potomac Café from Noon – 1pm. Join Chaplain Jenkins at the largest table for lunch and casual conversation.
• Meditation at 2PM in VSQ Music Room – Catherine Brousseau, Meditation Leader & Riderwood Resident
THIRD THURSDAY CHAPEL SERVICE AT 1PM, DECEMBER 18
• TOPIC: A bit of truth from Jesus
• WORSHIP LEADER: Chaplain Anthony Jenkins, UUs at Riderwood
• SPEAKER: Rev Alexa Fraser is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, a certified interim minister, a trained mediator, and a concerned citizen of Maryland. As we approach the Christmas season, let us explore Jesus’s message together. Presented by a UU minister, non-Christian and in the context of today’s world.
FOURTH THURSDAY DISCUSSION, being held on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23
• TOPIC: Hope
• DISCUSS: Chaplain Anthony will lead us in a conversation exploring gratitude as a spiritual practice in our personal relationships.
• CHANGE OF TIME – WHEN/WHERE: 11am-12pm in Montgomery Station Classroom
Liberal Lines
Liberal Lines is the monthly newsletter of the UU’s at Riderwood. It offers information about activities of interest to our community. Want to be on our mailing list? Please contact UUs@riderwoodlife.com
Pastoral Care
The Riderwood UU Pastoral Care Team is a group of trained lay volunteers who assist Chaplain Jenkins to serve members of the community who are experiencing illness, grief, medical events, and other difficult life issues. We all need a listening ear occasionally to help us through challenging times. Please leave a message at ouruucare@gmail.com. We check messages twice each day. All information is confidential.
Steering Committee
Activities of the Unitarian Universalists at Riderwood are coordinated by a Steering Committee composed of nine members. The Steering Committee meets the first Thursday of each month at 1:00 p.m. in the Village Square Classroom. Wren Wilhelm serves as Chair of the Steering Committee.